Jordan Peele's Twilight Zone reboot: everything we know so far

Start whistling THAT tune. Fans of seminal sci-fi anthology series The Twilight Zone can look forward to a whole new version of the famous, influential show - as Get Out director Jordan Peele is bringing a Trump-era take on the classic formula to TV screens.

A recent announcement by CBS in the US teased the comeback, naming Peele and Simon Kinberg as the key people behind the new series.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

This is set to be the third TV revival of The Twilight Zone in the last 30 years.

The story so far

The Twilight Zone's original run in the late 1950s and early '60s saw a range of haunting and macabre tales spanning horror, fantasy and science fiction.

Ironic twists were common. Iconic episodes encompassed everything from a post-apocalyptic book enthusiast to William Shatner becoming obsessed with a table-top fortune device. And creator Rod Serling's distinctive narration usually served up a moral lesson at the close - sometimes commenting on Cold War paranoia or human failings.

The cult show's influence and appeal remained so strong that two TV revivals took place 20 years apart; the first in the mid to late 80s, and the second early in the 00s.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A standalone movie comprising several stories was also released in 1983, with John Landis, Steven Spielberg, Joe Dante and George Miller all directing segments.

So, what's happening with the new reboot?

The new show will air on CBS All Access in the US. Although no UK broadcaster has yet been confirmed, other CBS All Access shows - most notably Star Trek Discovery - have come to Netflix in the UK.

Given that, it seems the streaming platform could be an obvious choice to host the new Twilight Zone on this side of the Atlantic.

As for an air date, 2019 seems likely, as production is probably in the early stages.

Are Peele and Kinberg the right people for the job?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Peele is a big fan of contemporary anthology show Black Mirror - itself inspired by The Twilight Zone - and an enthusiast of the horror and science fiction genres in general. He seems an ideal choice to bring back the classic show.

His debut movie, Get Out, was one of 2017's best and most surprising films, blending horror and dark humour with a fiendish twist and social commentary typical of The Twilight Zone in its heyday.

As Black Mirror co-creator Charlie Brooker himself said: "I'm looking forward to the Twilight Zone from Jordan Peele'¦if anyone's going to reboot the Twilight Zone, then there's the man to do it."

Peele is also currently working on his big screen follow-up to Get Out, which won him the Best Original Screenplay Oscar this year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

As for Kinberg, his credits as a writer and producer include various X-Men films, Deadpool 1 and 2, and the forthcoming Logan's Run remake. So his 'geek' credentials - and Hollywood clout - seem present and correct.

Why now?

Alluding to the surreal era of Trump and fake news in which we find ourselves, Peele believes The Twilight Zone's legacy of socio-political commentary and wry satire is ripe for a return.

"Too many times this year it's felt we were living in a twilight zone," he said, "and I can't think of a better moment to reintroduce it to modern audiences."

'¢ Have your say on the latest TV and film with Screen Babble, our discussion group on Facebook

[Main image: Universal Pictures]